Welcome to Midnight Mania!
Let’s start the night off by taking look back over the three biggest stories of Friday, July 11, 2025.
- Jack Della Maddalena should defend UFC title ‘two more times’ against ‘very upset’ Top 5 before Islam Makhachev fight: A division having too many contenders worthy of title shots is a good problem to have.
- Maxed out Conor McGregor mixes it up at BKFC press conference: ‘He’s out of his mind’: McGregor seems permanently influenced by his Road House character, even his voice has changed in his public performances.
- ‘Such a trip!’ Dana White reacts to ‘unbelievable’ Ben Askren video — ‘I reached out to his wife a few times’: All the best to Askren and his family in his continued recovery.
Insomnia
Canelo Alvarez is confident that Oleksandr Usyk remains unbeaten and takes out Daniel Dubois, and he’s putting his money where his mouth is.
Over the past five years, Usyk has beaten the best. Oleksandr has very strong stamina; he’s very technical and smart. When I see someone with that kind of focus, I back them. That’s why I placed a big bet on his victory. Oleksandr, you do you! https://t.co/eBmeGChs3y
— Canelo Alvarez (@Canelo) July 11, 2025
It’s so strange how Sean Strickland is willing to throw combinations and kicks when in the cage with a Welterweight.
Unranked Lightweights who will 100% throw down:
We are less than 24 hours away from some certified swang-and-bang.
An incredible new sport just dropped, and yes, it’s way better than Power Slap.
The most wild line dropped at a presser in recent memory. Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, the most family-friendly combat promotion around!
Dan Hooker is a natural promoter.
Slips, rips, and KO clips
Clipped over and over again from the back foot:
Beautiful feints into a cross-kick combo that landed with the knee, a perfect open stance attack.
Marcio Cabral knocks out Mailton Azevedo with a sneaky knee to the jaw in only 42 seconds. Commentary claimed it was to the body but no, that was chin. Azevedo ducked right into it. #LFA212 pic.twitter.com/Zf5a4pZRoC
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) July 11, 2025
A top prospect from Azerbaijan to keep an eye on:
Asaf Chopurov is the future
Asaf Chopurov is a 6-0 23 year old Azerbaijani who only turned pro in 2023, but he’s already beaten UFC level fighters
He’s one of the most well-rounded prospects in MMA, with a high degree of comfort everywhere, but grappling is his A-game pic.twitter.com/nWHe8nLtnm
— MixingMartialArts (@RyanAWagMMA) July 11, 2025
Random Land
Per NatGeo, a single pangolin can eat up to 70 million insects in a year.
Midnight Music: NEW CLIPSE!
Sleep well Maniacs! More martial arts madness is always on the way.
